For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
(A Ten-Minute Read)
Lebanon Ceasefire Efforts Underway
As the war in the Holy Land continues, the Israeli Foreign Minister says that diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire in Lebanon are making progress. By Nathan Morley
The Israeli Foreign Minister says that diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire in Lebanon are making progress.
Gideon Saar said he thought there was some advancement, adding that Israel is was working with the Americans on the issue.
He said that Israel would agree to a truce only if promised that Hezbollah pulled its forces north of the Litani River.
Israel also insists that Hezbollah will not rearm with new weapons systems.
For their part, Hezbollah said that no official ceasefire plan has been given to the group.
Israel has been conducting a massive ground offensive in Lebanon since late September, saying its aim is to demolish Hezbollah's military resources.
Read the full article HERE!:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2... ********
Pope Francis prays For Peace In Countries Battered By War
Pope Francis remembers nations suffering from war, especially in 'martyred' Ukraine, the Holy Land, and Myanmar. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
Pope Francis on Wednesday renewed his appeal to remember countries at war, warning against becoming desensitized to global death and devastation.
Pope at Audience: Mary takes us by the hand to Jesus
His appeal to not forget war-torn countries came in his remarks to Italian-speaking pilgrims toward the conclusion of his weekly General Audience.
"Brothers and sisters," he emphasized, "martyred Ukraine suffers! Let us not forget Ukraine."
Likewise, he continued, "let us not forget Palestine, Israel, Myanmar and so many nations at war."
In a special way, the Holy Father turned his attention to the group of 153 innocent Palestinians who earlier this month were shot and killed.
Thinking of them, he concluded, "Let us pray for peace. We need peace so much, so much!"
“Let us pray for peace. We need peace so much... so much”
Poles who stood strong with Rosary in hand
In his greetings to the Polish faithful, Pope Francis recalled the country's National Independence Day on 11 November.
Remembering how the the Polish people "fought" for their autonomy "even with the Rosary in their hands", he invited Poles worldwide, in their "personal, family and social concerns", to "invoke the help of the Mother of God, Queen of Poland, who has guarded your nation through many difficult times."
********
Pope at Audience: Mary takes Us By The Hand To Jesus
During his weekly General Audience in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis reflects on devotion to the Blessed Mother, and reminds faithful that she takes us by the hand to her Son, and enables us to see Him. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"The Blessed Mother shows us Jesus. She always opens the doors for us! The Madonna is the mother who takes us by the hand towards Jesus."
Pope Francis gave this comforting reminder to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square during his weekly General Audience on Wednesday morning.
As he continued his catechesis series on the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church, the Pope discussed Marian devotion, after having discussed, in prior Audiences, the Holy Spirit's role in sacraments and Christian prayer.
In his remarks, the Holy Father called on the faithful to turn to Mary, entrust themselves to her, and imitate her 'yes' to the Lord.
READ POPE FRANCIS' FULL GENERAL AUDIENCE ADDRESS HERE
First Disciple
Mary, as the first disciple and figure of the Church, the Holy Father suggested, "is herself a 'letter' written with the Spirit of the living God."
Pope Francis Prays For Peace In Countries Battered By War
Precisely for this reason, He suggested, she can be “Known and read" by everyone. "For when she said yes to God," he marveled, "it was as if Mary said to God: 'Here I am, I am a writing tablet: let the Writer write whatever He wishes, let the Lord of all do with me what He wills.'"
"Today," the Pope noted, "we might say that Mary offers herself to God as a blank page upon which He can write whatever He wants."
Mary's “yes,” Pope Francis recalled quoting a well-known exegete, "represents 'the pinnacle of every religious attitude before God, for she expresses, in the highest manner, passive availability united with active readiness, the deepest emptiness accompanied by the greatest fullness.'”
'Here I am'
Therefore, this is how, he said, the Mother of God is an instrument of the Holy Spirit in His work of sanctification.
"Amid the endless flood of words spoken and written about God, the Church, and holiness," the Pope reflected, the Blessed Mother suggests only two words that everyone can pronounce on any occasion: “Here I am” and “fiat.”
Through the Blessed Virgin's example and intercession," he continued, "she encourages us to also say our own 'yes' to Him whenever we face a call to obedience or a challenge to overcome."
“Mary encourages us to also say our own 'yes' to Him whenever we face a call to obedience or a challenge to overcome”
Pope Francis concluded by saying let us learn from the Blessed Mother's example of being receptive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.
Learn more HERE!:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20... ********
World Fisheries Day: ‘Christians Cannot Look The Other Way’
With over 58 million people working in the fishing sector, Cardinal Michael Czerny releases a message for World Fisheries Day, warning against the aggressive economic model that has harmed the environment. By Kielce Gussie
Each year, the United Nations celebrate World Fisheries Day on November 21 to underscore the importance of having sustainable stocks of fisheries around the world, eliminating illegal and unregulated fishing, and furthering human rights for small-scale fishing communities. This year's theme is "Let the waters teem with living creatures," inspired by the Book of Genesis.
On Tuesday November 12 the Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Cardinal Michael Czerny, released a message reflecting on the significance of this day.
Fishing: An Ancient Form Of Work
“Fishing, which is one of the most ancient forms of human work,” the Prefect explained, “has greatly changed in many parts of the world.” The causes of this change deal with “the harm done to our common home.” The relationship between human work and care for the environment has become unbalanced from the use of “predatory practices and technology for the benefit of an increasingly influential and powerful minority.”
With over 58 million people involved in the field of fisheries and aquaculture around the world, Cardinal Czerny warned against turning a blind eye towards actions that disregard care for the environment. He said, “the Church shares in the joys and hopes but also the sorrows and grief” of humanity who must now place an emphasis on fraternity rather than “globalization of indifference" to protect and preserve the environment.
"Beyond Passivity And Pessimism”
The Prefect recalled Pope Franics’ words at the first World Meeting of Popular Movements, praising their conscious efforts to take a stand against passivity and pessimism. The Pope said their “most important contribution” was not stepping back but taking the lead.
To do this, the Prefect explained, the emphasis must be placed on using technology to “uphold the dignity and security of labor and restoring a balance between individuals, work and the environment.” He urged lawmakers to defend small communities, family and local organizations of fishermen as they have the opportunity to “contribute directly and effectively to the common good.”
Read the full article HERE!:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city... ********
Archbishop Welby Resigns After Publication Of Ss*x Abuse Report
The Archbishop of Canterbury resigns following the publication of an independent review and mounting pressure to stand down after his handling of an abuse scandal.
By Vatican News
Archbishop Justin Welby resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury on Tuesday saying he had failed to ensure there was a proper investigation into allegations of abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps decades ago.
Revd Welby, who is also the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, released a statement in which he said “Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.”
In his statement, Welby quoted the independent Makin Review that, he said “has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.”
John Smyth, was a well-known attorney who abused teenage boys and young men at Christian summer camps across Britain, Zimbabwe, and South Africa for over five decades. He died in 2018.
The archbishop said that when he was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, he “believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.”
“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatising period between 2013 and 2024,” he continued, noting that “ It is my duty to honour my Constitutional and church responsibilities, so exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion.”
Profound Commitment To Create A Safer Church
Archbishop Welby expressed his hope that this decision will make clear “how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church.”
“As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse,” he said.
In the statement, Archbishop Welby referred to what he called a “long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England,” and noted that he has struggled to introduce improvements.
“In the meantime, I will follow through on my commitment to meet victims. I will delegate all my other current responsibilities for safeguarding until the necessary risk assessment process is complete,” he added, concluding that he believes that the decision to step aside is in the best interests of the Church of England.
The Makin Report
The Church of England's National Safeguarding Team commissioned the independent Makin Report - also known as the John Smyth Review - to investigate and expose the handling of allegations of abuse by the late John Smyth QC. The review was led by Keith Makin, with Sarah Lawrence assisting. It focuses on the Church’s response, exploring both the actions taken and areas for improvement in safeguarding practices. The objective of the review was to bring to light what the Church knew, or should have known, about allegations made against Smyth, evaluate its responses, and identify steps to help prevent similar abuses in the future. The review also considers the responses of associated organisations.
********
Long-Detained Eritrean Journalist Wins Rights Prize
A Swedish human rights organization announced arbitrarily-detained Dawit Isaak as the receipient of its distinguished Edelstam Foundation. By Phoebe Martel
In September 2001, the Eritrean government detained journalist and playwright Dawit Isaak for demanding democratic reforms. Isaak, a Swedish dual citizen, founded Setit, Eritrea’s first and only independent media outlet.
23 years later, Isaak remains imprisoned without indictment or trial in Asmara, Eritrea’s capital. Press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders has designated him and his Setit colleagues as the longest arbitrarily-held journalists in the world, and United Nations watchdogs have continuously called for their immediate release.
On November 11, a Swedish human rights institute selected Isaak as the recipient of the Edelstam Prize, which honors individuals who are staunch defenders of democratic principles.
“We award an international prize biannually, and this year it is awarded to Mr. Dawit Isaak for his outstanding contributions and exceptional courage in standing up for freedom of expression," Caroline Edelstam, the Foundation's president, told Vatican News in an interview.
Listen to Caroline Edelstam
The eponymous Edelstam Foundation bestows the prize in memory of Harald Edelstam, a Swedish diplomat who gave political asylum to Latin Americans fleeing coup-related violence in the 1970s.
In a statement, the Foundation’s jury demanded transparency surrounding Isaak’s case (until 2020, Isaak was feared dead and his whereabouts remain unknown). The jury also urged the international community to hold Eritrean authorities accountable for systematic torture and enforced disappearances of political prisoners.
Isaak’s daughter, Betlehem, will accept the prize on his behalf when it is presented in Stockholm on November 19.
President Isais Afwerki has ruled Eritrea since 1993, and there have been no elections in the country since its independence.
********
World Day Of The Poor: Pope Francis Organises Lunch With 1300 Poor People
As has become customary, Pope Francis will celebrate World Day of the Poor with some of the poor people of Rome, who will join him for lunch after he has presided over mass. By Francesca Merlo
Lunch with some of the poor people of Rome has become tradition for Pope Francis as he, along with the global Church, celebrate World Day of the Poor.
This year will mark the eighth edition, since the Pope established the day in 2017, and it will be no different to the last, as over 1,300 poor people are due to join Pope Francis for lunch.
A Project Of Help And Hope
Falling on the third Sunday of November, this year the day will be celebrated on the 17th and will officially begin with Holy Mass, presided over by Pope Francis, in St Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Francis presides Over Mass For World Day Of The Poor, November 2023
Pope Francis presides over Mass for World Day of the Poor, November 2023
However, shortly prior to the Eucharistic celebration, the Pope will have blessed 13 keys, each symbolically representing thirteen countries where the Vicentians will be inaugurating their “13 Houses” project. The project consists in building new homes for disadvantaged people in thirteen different countries. There, various charitable initiatives will take place, such as covering utility bills for low-income families through parish connections. One of the countries welcoming this new project is Syria, which has been forgotten by much of western media as it continues to suffer the devastating effects of almost two decades of conflict.
Why Should Politics Cause Poverty?
In his message for the 2024 World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis noted that war-driven "bad politics" generates new poverty and innocent victims. He urged everyone to pray with and for the poor, and highlighted that volunteers continue to devote themselves to serving the poorest in our cities, embodying God’s response to the cries of those in need.
The Quest For Justice
This year, in particular, the motto chosen by the Pope is taken from the book of Sirach: "The prayer of the poor rises to God" (Sirach 21:5). This motto emphasises that the poor hold a special place in God's heart. He hears their prayers and becomes "impatient" in their suffering until justice is done. The Book of Sirach confirms that "God's judgment will be in favour of the poor" (21:5).
Read the full article HERE!:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20... ********
COP29. Climate Change Affecting Vital Water Cycle In The Planet
As delegates meet in Baku for COP29, Vatican News speaks to UNESCO water expert Professor Mariele Evers of the University of Bonn about how climate change is changing water patterns in the planet resulting in more frequent and severe floods or droughts affecting the livelihoods of millions of people. By Stephanie Stahlhofen and Lisa Zengarini
The 29th annual United Nations Climate Summit (COP29) started in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Monday.
From November 11 to 22, delegates from nearly 200 countries will discuss ways to limit long-term global temperature rises to 1.5C set by the Paris Agreement in 2015 and prepare for future climate change. The main focus of the negotiations will be on climate finance, a cornerstone of global climate action.
One of the most evident effects of global warming is a dramatic change in water patterns across the world. As global temperature rises, glaciers, permafrost and snow mountain cryosphere is becoming increasingly fragile. Water supplies are more variable and there is an increased threat from flooding and natural disasters, as shown by this year’s extreme weather events that have hit several parts of the world, including Valencia two weeks ago.
No Life Without Water
This crucial issue was the focus of an international conversation titled “No Life without Water” organized in Rome by the German Embassy to the Holy See ahead of COP29.
Vatican News spoke with one of the participants, geographer Professor Mariele Evers, Chairholder of UNESCO Chair in Human-Water-Systems, who is an expert in eco-hydrology and water resources management.
Climate Change Aggravating Droughts And Floods
In the interview she reiterated the urgency of bold action to address the climate crisis which, she explained, is aggravating droughts and floods in vast and densely populated areas of the world, including India and China, affecting the livelihoods of millions of people who live on agriculture.
Read the full article HERE!:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2... ********
Pope Francis: 'Families And Homes Must Rediscover The Rosary's Beauty'
Pope Francis calls for rediscovering the Rosary's ability to evangelize the Church, in his letter commemorating 150 years since the painting of Our Lady of the Rosary arrived at the Italian Shrine of Pompeii. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"The Rosary, a simple tool accessible to everyone, can support the renewed evangelization to which the Church is called today."
Pope Francis acknowledged this in his message to Archbishop Tommaso Caputo of Pompeii, the papal delegate for the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary.
The ecclesial community in Pompeii is preparing to celebrate a Jubilee Year with various pastoral initiatives, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the revered image, of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Our Lady of the Rosary
Pope Francis began his message noting he spiritually unites with all those who will celebrate this significant occasion and will pause in prayerful recollection at the Marian temple of Pompeii, to find comfort and hope in the sweet face of the Heavenly Mother.
When that painting arrived on November 13, 1875, only a few years had passed since lawyer Bartolo Longo, the Founder of the Shrine, had rediscovered his faith, which had been lost during his university years. A voice heard deep in his soul was like a flash in the night, saving him from a bitter struggle and resonating anew in his heart with a saying linked to the devout tradition of the Rosary: “If you seek salvation, propagate the Rosary.”
The Pope called it "providential" that the jubilee of the painting of Our Lady of Pompeii coincides with the imminent Jubilee Year, centered on Jesus our hope, and with the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which gave particular emphasis to the divine-human mystery of Christ in the light of the Trinity.
Rediscovering the Rosary
"It is wonderful," the Pope said, "to rediscover the Rosary in this perspective, to assimilate the mysteries of the life of the Savior, contemplating them with the eyes of Mary."
"The Rosary, a simple tool accessible to everyone," he continued, "can support the renewed evangelization to which the Church is called today.
The Pope stressed how important it is to rediscover the beauty of the Rosary within families and homes.
Not only does this prayer aid in building peace, the Pope stressed how essential it is to propose to young people "so they may not perceive it as repetitive and monotonous," but as "an act of love that never tires of pouring itself out."
Source of Consolation And Love
Moreover, the Rosary, he marveled, is also a source of consolation for the sick and suffering, a “sweet chain that binds us to God,” but also "a chain of love that becomes an embrace for the least and the marginalized, as Bartolo Longo saw especially in the orphans and children of prisoners."
With this in mind, the Pope encouraged those commemorating the anniversary "to continue with renewed commitment, through the many initiatives of the Shrine, the great history of charity that he began."
"It is the most beautiful spiritual legacy," Pope Francis observed, "that the Blessed Founder left behind."
Speaking To Today's Humanity
Pope Francis went on to pray that the Lord, through the message of Our Lady of Pompeii, "continue to speak to today's humanity in need of rediscovering the path of concord and fraternity."
He also expressed his hope that her numerous devotees scattered around the world will always adhere more faithfully to the Lord, bearing witness to closeness to their brothers and sisters, especially the most needy.
********
Pope: ‘Synodality Is Inseparable From Ecumenism’
Welcoming to the Vatican the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Pope Francis hails the progress of the ecumenical dialogue between the two Churches, and reiterates that synodality and ecumenism are essential for a stronger Christian witness. By Lisa Zengarini
Pope Francis on Monday met with the Holy Synod of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, marking an historic first visit to Rome and confirming the good relations of this ancient Oriental Indian Church.
Mar Thoma Syrian Church traces its origins back to the mission of the Apostle St. Thomas in South-Western India in the first century and consists today of about 1.5 million members most of whom reside in the Indian State of Kerala, where it is based.
The Church has communion with the Thozhiyoor (Anglican) Church and maintains an ecclesiastical relationship with the Old Catholic Church, Union of Utrecht, as well as the Church of South India (CSI).
The Church also engages in ecumenical dialogues with various Churches, including the Syrian Orthodox Church and other Protestant Churches.
Additionally, the Mar Thoma Church actively participates in prominent ecumenical bodies, including the World Council of Churches (WCC), Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), and Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA).
A “bridge Church” between East and West
In his address Pope Francis warmly welcomed the Holy Synod and extended his greetings to Metropolitan Theodosius Mar Thoma and the Malankara faithful, expressing gratitude for their ecumenical role, in bridging Eastern and Western Christianity.
“Your Church,” he said, “rightly defines itself as a “bridge Church” between East and West.”
Reflecting on the progress of relations between the two Churches over the past decades, the Pope mentioned milestones such as the Second Vatican Council, where the Mar Thoma Church was represented, and recent official dialogues that began in Kerala in 2022 and are ongoing. He expressed hope that this “step-by-step approach” would lead one day to sharing the Eucharist in unity.
“I rejoice at the beginning of this dialogue, which I entrust to the Holy Spirit and which I hope will hasten the day when we will be able to share the same Eucharist, in fulfilment of the Lord’s prophecy: “They shall come from east and west and sit at table” (cf. Mt 8:11).”
Ecumenism and Synodality
Pope Francis went on to highlight two key areas for collaboration between the two Churches: synodality and mission.
Synodality, he noted, is intrinsic to the Mar Thoma Church and aligns with the Catholic Church's recent Synod on synodality. The Pope recalled that one of the convictions expressed at the Synod, and stated in the Final Document, is that synodality is inseparable from ecumenism, “for both are based on the one Baptism we have received and on the sensus fidei in which all Christians share by virtue of Baptism itself.”
Quoting the late Metropolitan of Pergamon Ioannis Zizioulas Late one of the most influential Orthodox Christian theologians of the 20th and 21st centuries, he recalled that Christian unity, even if it will fully be realized only in the future, requires a present commitment "to walk, pray, and work together."
Ecumenism And Mission
On the topic of mission, Pope Francis remarked that synodality and ecumenism are essential for a stronger Christian witness. “Mission is not only the goal of the ecumenical journey; it is also its means,” the Pope stressed, expressing hope that, as the recent Synod suggested, “one day we can celebrate an ecumenical Synod on evangelization.
Read and listen to the full article HERE!:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20... VISIT:
https://www.facebook.com/vaticannews
Posted By: agnes levine
Wednesday, November 13th 2024 at 4:01PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
